SHELBY, NC – No. 15 Walters State won their fifth-straight match on Thursday evening, taking a 3-1 (25-14, 23-25, 25-13, 25-20) win over Cleveland Community College. 

With the victory, the Lady Senators improved to 21-4 overall.

The Lady Senators started quick in the opening set, breaking out to a 7-2 lead as Veda Barton had a couple kills early. Cleveland cut the lead to 11-9, but a kill by Finley Surber and an ace by Olivia Brown made it 14-10. The lead continued to grow from there and two kills by Lauren Mims, one by Barton and a kill from Rylee Haynie made it 22-12. The Lady Senators closed the set out soon after at 25-14.

In set two, the two teams were tied at eight, nine and 10 before Cleveland grabbed the lead at 14-12. Walters State tied the set at 14, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 before Cleveland took the lead and held off a late Lady Senator charge to tie the match.

The third set was close early, but three kills by Surber and a block by Haynie gave the Lady Senators a 14-10 advantage. The lead was 16-12 following a block by Barton, 18-12 following a kill by Barton and 21-12 on a kill by Mims. The advantage eventually got to 24-12 before Cleveland scored to break the 10-point run. However, the Lady Senators scored the next point to win the set 25-13 and go up 2-1.

In the final set, the lead went back and forth. Walters State eventually broke a 16-16 deadlock with six straight points as Surber had two kills and Haynie a block. Cleveland tried to make a comeback and cut the lead to 22-19, but a kill by Haynie and a block by both Haynie and Barton helped Walters State close out the set and match at 25-20. 

Up Next:

Walters State will be back in action on Tuesday, hosting Chattanooga State for Sophomore Night. The match is set for 6:30 p.m.